Shafilea's mum WILL make final murder appeal (From Warrington Guardian)

Shafilea's mum WILL make final murder appeal

10:20am Thursday 31st January 2013 in News

FARZANA Ahmed will make one final attempt to overturn the conviction for murdering daughter Shafilea.

As revealed exclusively on the Warrington Guardian website, Mrs Ahmed had her initial appeal rejected by a top judge at the Court of Appeal.

But the 49-year-old had until today to appeal that decision. And on Wednesday she exercised her right to do so.

Iftikhar Ahmed, aged 52, will not appeal the murder conviction.

A date has yet to be set for Mrs Ahmed’s application to be reconsidered, but a spokesman for the Judiciary said it will be some time before it is heard.

The spokesman said: “Farzana Ahmed's application for permission to appeal her conviction was refused on the papers by a single judge.

“She had until January 31 to submit a renewed application.

“I can confirm that Farzana Ahmed has renewed her application seeking permission to appeal her conviction.”

Mrs Ahmed is attempting to quash the 25-year prison sentence imposed for killing Shafilea.

Her case will now be considered by a panel of three judges.

They have the power to accept her application, or to reject it.

If they grant her permission, a full appeal hearing will take place at the Court of Appeal at a later date.

However, if it is decided she has no grounds to reverse the life sentence imposed for killing her 17-year-old daughter, her appeal will be over.

Mrs Ahmed, along with husband Iftikhar, aged 52, was found guilty of murder in August last year.

The verdict followed an explosive 11 week trial at Chester Crown Court.

Both parents denied having anything to do with the former Great Sankey High School pupils disappearance in September 2003.

They both lied throughout the subsequent police investigation.

Then during the trial Mrs Ahmed turned on her husband, claiming he was responsible for Shafilea’s death.

But the jury of 12 found both parents guilty in a unanimous decision that concluded a near nine year-long murder inquiry.